Hockey bettors get a 12-game, NHL slate on Tuesday as the league returns from a holiday break.
The pregame narrative: The Washington Capitals and New York Rangers are playing stingy, defensively-sound hockey, putting the under firmly in play. The Minnesota Wild are one of the hottest teams in the league and a good bet to beat the Winnipeg Jets. Lastly, we’ll look to the Pittsburgh Penguins to top the New York Islanders.
Find our top NHL picks for December 27 below.
Odds as of 1:50 pm on 12/26/2022.
NHL picks
Best Bet : Capitals vs. Rangers under 6 goals (-110)
Offense will be hard to come by when these two teams square off on Tuesday.
Washington and New York are two of the best defensive squads in the NHL right now. The Capitals are allowing the fifth-fewest expected goals per 60 (2.58) over the last two weeks of play, according to Natural Stat Trick. They’re also giving up the 10th-fewest high-danger chances per 60 (11.1) during this time.
The Caps are also receiving stellar play between the pipes. The duo of Charlie Lindgren and Darcy Kuemper have combined for the fourth-highest team save percentage in the league (.927) across the last 14 days of play.
New York is equally as impressive defensively, tying with the Carolina Hurricanes for the fourth-best expected goals against per 60 mark (2.44) over the last two weeks of play. It’s surrendering the ninth-fewest high-danger chances per 60 (11.09) during this stretch.
The Rangers never have to worry about goaltending with Igor Shesterkin in net, as they own the sixth-best team save percentage (.924) over the last 14 days of action.
Key stats: The under on this total has hit in back-to-back games for the Capitals, and three of their last five.
Quick picks
Wild moneyline (-113): Minnesota lost its final game before the break to the San Jose Sharks, but don’t let that distract you from the six consecutive wins before that. The Wild rank fifth in expected goals percentage (57.20%) and team save percentage (.926) over the last two weeks of play, dominating in all facets of the game.
The Jets, meanwhile, have been reeling as of late with losses in three of their last four games and five of their last eight.
Penguins moneyline (-125): The Penguins have won each of their last eight games against teams not named the Hurricanes, and last time we checked, New York is still the Islanders. They possess the ninth-best expected goals percentage (53.62%) and the third-highest team save percentage (.928) over the last two weeks of play.
New York, meanwhile, is 19th in expected goals percentage (49.73%), and has a worse team save percentage (.912) during this stretch.
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